Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 7
Bertrand
[To my dearest friend in the world, my friend who’s like the other half of my soul, Richelle.
Richelle! I heard everything from Julia. Madam Curtis recommended you for a tutor position, and at the Otis family, no less!
Madam Curtis holds you in such high regard, so I imagine her recommendation letter was filled with praises, and with your impressive resume and credentials, the Otis family must have welcomed you with open arms, right?
But, Richelle, I wish you wouldn’t go.
I know that House Otis is prestigious, but something about it makes me uneasy. I’ve heard that the Otises have been absent from the social circles for almost a decade now. Even the eldest son, who is about to come of age, has not been seen at school, let alone shown his face.
And there have been strange rumors circulating for a while… Hmm, I can’t quite remember the details.
Anyway!
And then there’s the matter of the signing bonus. I’ve never heard of a tutor being given a signing bonus before, especially such a substantial amount. It seems a bit excessive, even for House Otis, though you certainly deserve twice that amount for your talents.
Can’t you just stay in Domblinn? Robbie’s work is nearly finished, so I’ll be visiting Domblinn soon. Let’s go to Lynton together this spring. We’ll enjoy the glamorous social season in the capital. How about it?
I’d love for you to be in Domblinn when I get there. I pray every night before I sleep.
Always worrying and loving you,
Margaret Chester]
***
[To my affectionate friend Margaret,
Madam Chester, huh? You’ve surprised me from the very first line of your letter.
I hope Robert never finds out that he’s not the ‘dearest friend in the world’ and ‘other half of the soul’ to Meg Chester; he’d be heartbroken.
I received your letter and your concerns, and they are valid. I was a bit skeptical myself when I first heard the offer. I’m not familiar with the Otis family’s circumstances or their social standing, but the substantial signing bonus did seem odd.
I intended to decline because I was worried about my mother being on her own. But then, well, I had a big argument with her…
I decided it might be best to be away from her for a while, so I accepted the offer. Yes, it was a somewhat impulsive decision.
But don’t worry too much, Meg. After all, Madam Curtis recommended me, and after hearing the explanation from the Otis family about why they offered such a large signing bonus, it made sense.
The children I’ll be teaching are the young Otis twins. Apparently, they’re such troublemakers that no tutor has lasted more than a month. They’re offering a large signing bonus in hopes of finding someone willing to commit to at least a year.
I appreciate your invitation to go to Lynton together. But by the time you read this letter, I’ll probably be in Sylvester… I really wanted to see you, it’s a shame.
It looks like we won’t be able to see each other for a year. I’ll write again once I’ve settled in.
See you soon, Meg. Don’t worry too much. And give my regards to Robert.
Nervously anticipating a new life,
Richelle Howard]
***
By the time Richelle arrived at Sylvester Station, dinner time had long passed.
‘I remember they said no visitors to the mansion after six in the evening.’
Mulling over the contents of the letter, Richelle stepped out of the station. The downtown Sylvester, illuminated by gas lamps, seemed as bustling as the capital Lynton at first glance.
However, there was no time to look around. The longest train journey of her life had left her physically and mentally exhausted, and at such a late hour, the chances of finding a decent inn room were slim.
Richelle chose an inn near the station that seemed reasonably clean and not too expensive to enter. Surprisingly, the innkeeper recognized her.
“Are you Miss Howard?”
“Do you know me?”
“Oh, I thought you might be. You’re quite a striking young lady. The Bertrand Mansion had asked the nearby inns to take good care of their guest—a young lady named Richelle Howard. Unfortunately, our inn is fully booked, but let me recommend another inn for you. Hey, Max!”
Following the innkeeper’s instruction, a young bellboy took Richelle to a very luxurious inn, the kind where nobles or wealthy businessmen would stay. She had never dared to enter such a place because of its imposing exterior.
The innkeeper, who initially greeted them haughtily, changed his attitude as soon as the Bertrand Mansion was mentioned.
